Wrinkle reducing garment enclosure

ABSTRACT

A garment enclosure is disclosed having top and bottom panels, first and second side panels, and first and second end panels. The enclosure has a longitudinal axis and an unfolded length. First and second cylindrical members are connected to the top panel and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. First and second extensible panels are connected to the bottom panel at locations adjacent respective first and second cylindrical members. The extensible panels are extensible in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure. The extensible panels are not connected to the first and second side panels, so that when a garment is placed within the enclosure and the enclosure is folded about the first and second cylindrical members, the extensible panels extend longitudinally to prevent binding of the garment at the fold points. The elimination of binding substantially eliminates wrinkling of the garment. A method of using the garment enclosure is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure generally relates to foldable garment enclosures, and more particularly to a foldable garment enclosure incorporating features that reduce binding and wrinkling of clothing folded and enclosed therein.

BACKGROUND

Folded garments often are packed loose within suitcases and garment bags, which causes wrinkling when the garments shift due to the rigors of transport. Wrinkling particularly occurs in the large open suitcases in which there may be a single cavity within which numerous folded garments are packed. Such wrinkling also occurs in hanging bags even though the garments may be hung individually on hangers within the bag. Wrinkling occurs in these bags because of the compacting of the garments within the bag and because of the shifting of the garments relative to each other when the bags are moved about.

One solution has been to prevent shifting by strapping garments down to one or more panels of the case or bag. The problem with strapping, however, is that portions of the garments still shift when the case or bag is moved, which again causes binding and wrinkling of the garments at or near the strap locations.

An alternative approach has been to place wrinkle-prone clothing in a separate enclosure within the bag or case. The clothes are packed in the enclosure, which is then folded in half or in thirds, and is then secured or simply placed within the suitcase or garment bag. While this approach may be an improvement over strapping, wrinkling still usually occurs with these enclosures due to the binding of the garments along the fold lines of the enclosure. This is because typical garment carriers and suit fixtures have equal length top and bottom panels. When a garment is placed between the top and bottom walls and the assembly is folded, the top (outer) wall folds over and around the garment mass, while the bottom (inner) wall has to compensate for the reduced space of the inner fold region. The only way for the bottom wall to compensate for this reduced space is to wrinkle at the fold lines. The wrinkles created in the bottom wall translate directly into the garments stored inside.

There remains a need for an improved system for reducing the wrinkling of garments packed within suitcases and other similar travel containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages heretofore associated with the prior art are overcome by the inventive design for a foldable garment enclosure incorporating expansible panels located at the fold points of the enclosure that reduce binding, and thus wrinkling, of the enclosed garments. The disclosed garment enclosure may be configured so that the top and bottom panels can move semi-independently from each other to thereby conform more naturally to a contained garment without the binding found with prior enclosures. In one embodiment, the extensible panels may be located at the fold points in the bottom panel, while cylindrical foam members are connected to the top panel and located adjacent to the extensible panels. The side walls of the enclosure may have scalloped or gusseted sections located directly adjacent to the extensible panels to enable the top and bottom panels to move semi-independently. Both the extensible panels and the scalloped side panels allow the bottom panel to “grow” longer while the top panel remains the same length. The extensible panels also allow the enclosure to adjust to the thickness of the garments packed inside. The cylindrical members help facilitate the folding of garments by providing a smooth wrinkle free surface around which the garments are folded.

In use, the garments fold around the cylindrical members while the extensible panels grow longer, allowing the top wall to remain its original length, thus reducing folding wrinkles in the enclosure wall that translate into the garments

In one embodiment, a wrinkle-reducing garment enclosure system is disclosed, comprising first and second side panels and top and bottom panels connected together to form a garment enclosure having an unfolded length and a longitudinal axis. The system may further comprise a first cylindrical member connected to the top panel, the cylindrical member disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The system may also have a first extensible panel connected to the bottom panel, the extensible panel disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure and adjacent to the cylindrical member, the extensible panel being extensible in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure; wherein when a garment is placed within the garment enclosure and the garment enclosure is folded about the cylindrical member the extensible panel extends in the first direction.

A garment enclosure is disclosed, comprising first and second side panels and top and bottom panels connected together to form a garment enclosure having an unfolded length and a longitudinal axis. The garment enclosure may further have first and second flexible cylindrical members connected to the top wall, the flexible cylindrical members oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The garment enclosure may also have first and second extensible panels connected to the bottom wall, the first and second extensible panels oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The first and second extensible panels may be disposed adjacent to respective ones of the first and second flexible cylindrical members, the first and second extensible panels being extensible in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure.

A method is disclosed for packing a garment in an enclosure to minimize wrinkling. The method may comprise the steps of: (a) providing a garment enclosure comprising: (1) top and bottom panels, the garment enclosure having an unfolded length and a longitudinal axis; (2) first and second flexible cylindrical members connected to the top wall, the flexible cylindrical members oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure; (3) first and second extensible panels connected to the bottom wall, the extensible panels oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, the first and second extensible panels disposed adjacent to respective ones of the first and second flexible cylindrical members, the first and second extensible panels being extensible in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure; (b) disposing a garment within the enclosure; and (c) folding the garment enclosure about the first and second flexible cylindrical members; wherein the folding step causes each of the extensible panels to extend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The details of the invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be obtained by a review of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a conventional suitcase design;

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of the disclosed garment enclosure;

FIG. 2B is a partial cross-section view of a portion of the garment enclosure of FIG. 2A taken along line 2B-2B;

FIG. 3 is a reverse isometric view of the garment enclosure of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the garment enclosure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the garment enclosure of FIG. 1 in the folded configuration;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the garment enclosure of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the garment enclosure of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional suitcase 1 within which the disclosed garment enclosure 18 may be packed. The suitcase 1 may comprise a front 2, a rear or wheel-end wall 4, a reinforced side wall 6 and an opposite side wall 8. The case 1 may have top and bottom walls 10, 12 that enclose the front 2, rear 4 and side walls 6 and 8. A handle 14 may be attached to the case 1. As will be appreciated, the particular type or size or style of the suitcase or travel container is not critical to the disclosure.

FIGS. 2A and 3 show an exemplary garment enclosure 18 formed of top and bottom panels 20, 22 and first and second side panels 24, 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second ends 28, 30 of the enclosure remain open, although this is not critical. The top, bottom and side panels 20, 22, 24, 26 may be made from any material appropriate for use in suitcase and garment packing applications. Thus, the panels may be made from substantially flexible coated or uncoated textile material (e.g., nylon), leather, neoprene, and the like. Though flexible, the sheets should be sufficiently stiff so as to lie in a generally flat configuration during normal use.

As will be described in greater detail later, the top and bottom panels 20, 22 and first and second side panels 24, 26 may be connected together at associated side edges to form a substantially rectangular enclosure 18 having a longitudinal axis A-A and an interior included space of sufficient size to receive one or more articles of clothing. The manner in which the panels are joined to each other is not critical, and may include sewing, melting and the like.

A closure member 27 such as a zipper may be provided along the length of one of the first and second side panels 24, 26 to enable a user to open the enclosure 18 for easy positioning of clothes inside. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure member 27 is a zipper disposed in side panel 28. Once the clothes have been placed within the enclosure 18, the halves of the associated side panel 28 can be re-zipped to ready the enclosure 18 for folding. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that closure members other than zippers may be used. A non-limiting list of suitable closures includes hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro), buckles and the like.

The enclosure 18 may be provided at one end with a suitable connector 29 for engaging a typical clothing hanger. In its simplest form this connector 29 can be a metal loop connected to the interior surface 31 of the top or bottom panel that enables the hanging hook of the hanger to be retained when the hung clothes are placed within the enclosure 18. In addition, the enclosure 18 may have one or more storage pockets 23 (FIG. 3) to enhance storage capacity and enable retention of small items, such as ties and accessories. The storage pocket 23 may have a zippered closure 25. Further, one or more portions of the panels of enclosure 18 may be provided with suitable stiffening elements such as polyethylene sheet material and/or wire frame members to enhance the shape of the enclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the top panel 20 may have first and second flexible cylindrical members 32, 34 disposed in a substantially transverse orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A of the enclosure 18. These cylindrical members 32, 34 may be positioned at the “fold points” of the enclosure 18, which in the illustrated embodiment are at approximately ⅓·L and ⅔·L, where “L” is the length of the enclosure 18 as measured along the longitudinal axis A-A. (It will be appreciated that for some embodiments of the enclosure 18 that are sized to fit within a suitcase 1 using only a single “fold point,” that only one flexible cylindrical member would be provided, at approximately ½·L.) The length “L” of the unfolded enclosure 18 may be from about 30-inches to about 60-inches. It will be appreciated that shorter versions may be provided with fewer fold points (e.g., the 30-inch version could have a single fold point), while longer versions may be provided with more fold points for packing in a small suitcase (e.g., the 60 inch version could be provided with three fold points).

As shown in FIG. 2B, the flexible cylindrical members 32, 34 may be connected to the top panel 20 by respective flap members 33, 35 that overlie the cylindrical members and are sewn or otherwise joined to the top panel 20 along transverse joint lines 37 located on opposite sides of each of the cylindrical members 32, 34. Thus, arranged, the flap members 33, 35 each creates a pocket that retains one of the cylindrical members 32, 34, holding the cylindrical member in position with respect to the top panel 20. The illustrated flap member arrangement is, of course, only one exemplary method for connecting the cylindrical members to the top panel. Other connections are contemplated, such as direct sewing of the members to the panel, gluing and the like.

The flexible cylindrical members 32, 34 may each have a diameter “D” sized so that when the garment enclosure 18 is folded over on itself, the cylindrical members 32, 34 act as “hanger-like” elements around which the contained garments gently bend. In one embodiment, the diameter “D” may be about 2 inches, although the diameter “D” may range from about 1 inches to about 5 inches.

The flexible cylindrical members 32, 34 may comprise any of a variety of highly flexible materials, such as foam rubber, flexible polymer material, rolled fabric, or the like. In one embodiment, a closed cell polymer foam may be used. Closed cell foams offer the advantages of being light weight, and also of resisting compression and flattening over time. As an alternative, the cylindrical members 32, 34 may be made from substantially rigid materials such as wood, cardboard, or substantially rigid polymer materials.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the bottom panel 22 may have first and second extensible panels 36, 38 disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure 18. These extensible panels 36, 38 may, like the flexible cylindrical members 32, 34, be positioned at the “fold points” of the enclosure 18. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment the centerline of each extensible panel 36, 38 is located at approximately ⅓·L and ⅔·L as measured from the second end 30 of the enclosure 18. It will be appreciated that for embodiments of the enclosure 18 that are sized to fit within a suitcase 1 using only a single “fold,” that only one extensible panel would be provided, at approximately ½·L.

In the illustrated embodiment, the extensible panels 36, 38 each has an un-extended length “PL” of about 4-inches as measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis A-A of the enclosure 18.

As the name indicates, extensible panels 36, 38 may be made of a material that allows the panels to stretch when a tensile load is applied to the panel ends. In the illustrated embodiment, the stretch direction of the extensible panels 36, 38 is oriented so that the panels can stretch in the direction indicated by arrows B-B, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the garment enclosure 18. In one embodiment, the extensible panels 36, 38 are extensible only in the direction B-B, and are substantially non-extensible in the transverse direction. Alternatively, the extensible panels 36, 38 may be extensible in more than one direction.

In one embodiment the extensible panels 36, 38 are formed from a nylon mesh material. It will be appreciated, however, that any of a variety of other extensible materials can also be used. The panels may have any of a variety of extensibility characteristics desired for a particular application. In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the extensible panels 36, 38 may have an extensibility of about 0.125-inches per 10 pounds of tensile force.

Each of the extensible panels 36, 38 may be connected to the bottom panel 22 via first and second transverse seams 40, 42. Notably the extensible panels are not connected to the first and second side panels 24, 26, as indicated in FIG. 4, which shows a horizontal gap “G1” between the extensible panels 36, 38 and the side panel 26. Likewise, a vertical gap “G2” is formed between the extensible panels and side panel 26 due to the presence of a gusset region 39 in the side panel 26. (Similar gaps G1, G2 also exist between the extensible panels 36, 38 and side panel 24. Likewise side panel 24 has similar gusset regions 39 associated with the extensible panels 36, 38.) Gaps G1, G2 allow the extensible panels 36, 38 to stretch when a tensile force is applied along axis A-A. That is, the gaps eliminate restrictions on movement of extensible panels 36, 38 that would otherwise be caused by the side panels 24, 26.

The extensible panels 36, 38 may be connected to the top panel using any of a variety of connecting techniques, such as sewing, melt bonding and the like.

As noted, because the extensible panels 36, 38 are not directly connected to the side panels 24, 26, the extensible panels are allowed to stretch in the direction B-B when clothes are placed in the enclosure and the enclosure is folded about the fold points. Thus, instead of binding the enclosed garments, the extensible panels 36, 38 stretch around the garments, firmly holding them against the flexible cylindrical members 32, 34, thus minimizing or preventing binding and wrinkling.

This is better seen in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in which the garment enclosure 18 is shown in the folded configuration that it will assume when packed inside suitcase 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the garment enclosure 18 has been folded into thirds, with the fold lines formed at the first and second flexible cylindrical members 32, 34. The first and second extensible panels 34, 36 are located directly adjacent to respective cylindrical members 32, 34, and panel 36 is shown in the extended configuration such that it has stretched to assume an extended length “EPL” that is greater than the original length “PL” shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the flexible cylindrical members 32, 34, the extensible panels 36, 38, and an enclosed article of clothing 44 when the garment enclosure 18 is in the folded state. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the cylindrical members 32, 34, form gently curving fold cores for the garment 44, while the extensible panels 36, 38 gently press against the garment to hold it in place without binding.

It will be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent an embodiment of the invention, and are therefore merely representative of the subject matter that is broadly contemplated by the invention. It will be further understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims. 

1. A wrinkle-reducing garment enclosure system, comprising: first and second side panels and top and bottom panels connected together to form a garment enclosure having an unfolded length and a longitudinal axis; a first cylindrical member connected to the top panel, the cylindrical member disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure; a first extensible panel connected to the bottom panel, the extensible panel disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure and adjacent to the cylindrical member, the extensible panel being extensible in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure; wherein when a garment is placed within the garment enclosure and the garment enclosure is folded about the cylindrical member the extensible panel extends in the first direction.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second cylindrical member connected to the top wall, the second cylindrical member disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure; and a second extensible panel connected to the bottom wall, the second extensible panel oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure, the second extensible panel being extensible in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure; wherein the first and second cylindrical members are substantially flexible.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first cylindrical member is positioned at a distance from the second cylindrical member so that when a first end of the garment enclosure is folded about the first cylindrical member and a second end of the garment enclosure is folded about the second flexible cylindrical member, the folded garment enclosure has a folded length that is approximately one third the unfolded length.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first extensible panel is connected to the bottom panel along first and second seams oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, and the first extensible panel is not directly connected to the first and second side panels.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second side panels comprises a closure member to enable access to an interior space of the garment enclosure when the closure member is in the opened configuration.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the closure member comprises a zipper.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first extensible panel has an extensibility of about 0.125 inches per 10 pounds of tensile force applied.
 8. A garment enclosure, comprising: first and second side panels and top and bottom panels connected together to form a garment enclosure having an unfolded length and a longitudinal axis; the garment enclosure further having first and second flexible cylindrical members connected to the top wall, the flexible cylindrical members oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure; first and second extensible panels connected to the bottom wall, the first and second extensible panels oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, the first and second extensible panels disposed adjacent to respective ones of the first and second flexible cylindrical members, the first and second extensible panels being extensible in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first flexible cylindrical member is positioned at a distance from the second flexible cylindrical member so that when a first end of the garment enclosure is folded about the flexible cylindrical member and a second end of the garment enclosure is folded about the second flexible cylindrical member, the folded garment enclosure has a folded length that is approximately one third the unfolded length.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second extensible panel members are connected to the bottom panel along seams oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, and the first and second extensible panel members are not directly connected to the first and second side panels.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the top and bottom panels comprises a closure member to enable access to an interior space of the garment enclosure when the closure member is in the opened configuration.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the closure member comprises a zipper.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second extensible panel members have an extensibility of about 0.125 inches per 10 pounds of tensile force applied.
 14. A method for packing a garment in an enclosure to minimize wrinkling, comprising: providing a garment enclosure comprising: top and bottom panels, the garment enclosure having an unfolded length and a longitudinal axis; first and second flexible cylindrical members connected to the top wall, the flexible cylindrical members oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure; first and second extensible panels connected to the bottom wall, the extensible panels oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, the first and second extensible panels disposed adjacent to respective ones of the first and second flexible cylindrical members, the first and second extensible panels being extensible in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure; disposing a garment within the enclosure; and folding the garment enclosure about the first and second flexible cylindrical members; wherein the folding step causes each of the extensible panels to extend.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the garment enclosure further has first and second side panels connected to the top and bottom panels along respective seams, the first and second flexible panel members are connected to the bottom panel along seams oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, and the first and second extensible panels are not connected to the first and second side panels.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the top and bottom panels comprises a closure member to allow access to an interior space of the garment enclosure when the closure member is in the opened configuration.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the closure member comprises a zipper.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second extensible panels have an extensibility of about 0.125 inches per 10 pounds of tensile force applied.
 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising disposing the garment enclosure within a suitcase or garment bag.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second extensible panels are substantially inextensible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the garment enclosure. 